Who is Cindy Holscher and what is Holscher running on in the 2026 Kansas Governor race?

Cindy Holscher is the Democratic candidate for Kansas governor. Kansas state senator (Overland Park) since 2021, after four years in the state House; former Sprint employee and public-school funding advocate; grew up in rural Missouri. Beat Ethan Corson in the Aug 4 primary (about 48% to 39%). Running mate: state Rep. KC Ohaebosim (Wichita). Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The race

• The seat: Open seat (Laura Kelly (D) term-limited).
• Rating: Lean R flip (Cook, Sabato and RealClearPolitics).

Why Holscher is behind

• Kansas leans Republican, and with Kelly term-limited the GOP sees an open-seat pickup.
• Masterson has Trump’s endorsement and leads the GOP-supermajority Senate.
• Kansas often alternates parties in the governorship, and Democrats have won it with moderate-populist messages on schools and Medicaid. Holscher runs as an anti-establishment populist.
• Holscher beat the Kelly-backed Corson despite being outraised 2-to-1, so she enters the general with less money.

What Holscher is running on

• Cost of living. Makes lowering the cost of living her top priority.
• Property taxes. Would cut property taxes so rising bills don’t push people out of their homes.
• Education. Pledges to fully fund public schools.
• Data centers. Would pause new data-center approvals until safeguards are in place.
• Healthcare. Would expand Medicaid and protect rural hospitals.
• Corporate subsidies. Calls the Chiefs stadium deal a handout to billionaires.

The other candidates

• Ty Masterson (R)

Every race

See every Senate and governor race on the ballot, with each candidate’s chance of winning: the 2026 midterms at a glance.